Working groups

Africa wide Forecast based Financing (FbF) Coordination Cell group

This group facilitates coordination, promotes dialogue, joint learning and exchanges among the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement on Forecast Based Financing mechanism implementation and Early Action Protocol development. It also reviews ongoing initiatives and developments on Anticipatory Action in the region to share lesson learnt and best practices, and support policy and advocacy. The group also provides technical support to National Societies.

Membership:

Red Cross Red Crescent movement, non-RCRC actors invited on a guest basis.

Lead:

IFRC Africa Regional Office  

Contact point:

Phoebe Wafubwa Shikuku, Phoebe.SHIKUKU@ifrc.org

View ToRs here.

Eastern Africa Forecast based Financing (FBF) Technical working Group

This working group supports the National Societies to develop their Early Action Protocols and to systematically integrate Forecast based Actions, preparedness, DRR and climate change actions into their programmes, policies and strategies. It also promotes collaboration and synergies among the Red Cross Partners and provides platform to discuss and share ongoing initiatives, lessons learned & best practices, on current developments and future trends in relation to mainstreaming anticipatory action. It also supports advocacy to external partners within the region.

Membership:

Red Cross Red Crescent movement

Lead:

IFRC East Africa Cluster  

Contact:

Irene Amuron: amuron@climatecentre.org

View ToRs here.

The Eastern Africa regional technical working group on Anticipatory Action (RTWGAA) was established by IGAD together with partners in 2023 with the aim to provide coordinated platform to guide and lead harmonization of national approaches to AA by various stakeholders. The RTWGAA meets quarterly with IGAD and WFP as the chair and co-chair respectively.  The mandate of the working group is in line with the developed strategic roadmap on AA.
 
The RTWGAA sub-working groups support the implementation of the six pillars of regional AA roadmap, as well as keep track of progress, new information, needs and emerging issues, and provide strategic and technical guidance in their thematic areas.

Lead and Co-leads:

IGAD: George Otieno

WFP: Maurine Ambani

Contact

rtwgaa@igad.int

Read more about the technical working group here.

Regional Anticipatory Action Working Group (RAAWG)

The Regional Anticipatory Action Working Group (RAAWG) aims to promote a regional approach and platform for knowledge sharing, cooperation and peer-to-peer learning in Southern Africa. It facilitates information sharing, coordination and joint advocacy, and helps collate evidence from global initiatives, support the development of a mainstreamed anticipation agenda and align standards, while also increasing investment and political momentum to drive the ongoing shift towards anticipation. 

Co-leads:

IFRC

World Food Programme

FAO

Contact points:

Lucas Serage (FAO)

Tawonga Dalikeni (IFRC)

Elizabeth Viljoen (WFP)

View the ToR here and the roadmap here.

The main purpose of the group is to meet (virtually & physically) periodically to discuss and share ongoing initiatives, lessons learned & best practices, current developments and future trends in relation to mainstreaming climate change into Red Cross/ Red Crescent programmes in the region. The group will also explore the possibilities of providing technical support to sister National Societies in the region through existing mechanisms to progress on Climate Change and resilience agenda, including support to mainstream CCA in to sectoral programmes such as Health, Shelter, WASH, Livelihood, Logistics & Supply Chain, PMER and Policies/Advocacy etc.

Membership:

Red Cross Red Crescent movement and technical experts.

Co-leads:

IFRC

Climate Centre  

Contact:

Bettina Koelle, koelle@climatecentre.org

View the ToR's here.

The Anticipatory Action Working Group for West and Central Africa (in French : Groupe de Travail Action Anticipatoire – Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre [GTAA-AOC]) is a space for strategic collaboration, aimed at harmonizing approaches and pooling efforts at the regional level, sharing knowledge and good practices, and strengthening local capacities. It will enable members to jointly advocate for the mainstreamed anticipatory action agenda, while promoting national ownership of anticipatory mechanisms and thus increase financial and political engagement.

Co-leads:

OCHA
FAO

Contact:

Stephanie Larsen, stephanie.larsen@un.org
Ousmane Diop, ousmane.diop@fao.org

View the ToR here.

The main objective of this MENA region anticipatory action Community of Practice is to establish a space for technical and advocacy coordination, collaboration and learning exchange and capacity strengthening on anticipatory action and acting earlier ahead of disasters in the region. It will bring together key actors to work together to ensure an effective and coordinated efforts to scale up anticipatory action in the region.

Find out more about the Community of Practice in English or in Arabic.

The Regional Technical Group on Anticipatory Action in Latin America and the Caribbean (GTAA LAC) is a technical and inter-institutional coordination space that promotes the expansion and consolidation of anticipatory action across the region. It is composed, among others, of UN agencies, NGOs, climate centers, and intergovernmental organizations.

The group works in a coordinated manner across the following thematic areas:

• Early warning systems and climate services
• Development and activation of anticipatory action frameworks
• Institutionalization of anticipatory action
• Access to flexible financing
• Joint learning and regional knowledge exchange

View the ToR here.

Co-leads:

• German Red Cross/IFRC
• FAO
• OCHA
• WFP

Contact:

For more information about anticipatory action in the region, collaboration proposals, or any other inquiries, please contact the GTAA LAC through its shared email address, gtaalac@gmail.com.

The Asia-Pacific Technical Working Group on Anticipatory Action facilitates knowledge-sharing across the region and informs the development of coherent technical tools, training materials and joint advocacy messages.

It has four main objectives:

1. National and regional coordination
2. Knowledge-sharing
3. Capacity building and training
4. Fostering partnerships 

Co-leads

International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and its Partner National Societies and Reference Centres

Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Contact points

Raymond Zingg, regional forecast-based financing coordinator, IFRC Asia-Pacific Regional Office

Catherine Jones, anticipatory action lead for Asia and the Pacific, FAO

Read more about the Technical Working Group here.

The National FOREWARN projects are multi-disciplinary, multi-stakeholder networks of aid professionals, humanitarians, academics and risk experts, organised to support early action in the way that most makes sense in the local context. 

Since 2019, Bangladesh, Madagascar, Pakistan, and the Philippines have established national FOREWARN projects. Through these projects, Start Network members can engage hazard experts in collaborative anticipation work. All National FOREWARN projects are hosted by Start Network members.

Read more about the Bangladesh project here.

Read more about FOREWARN here. 

Membership

Start Network members and wider stakeholders. All expert members of National FOREWARNs are also members of the global expert pool.

Contact:

General: forewarn@startprogrammes.org

Bangladesh: ashraful.haque@startnetwork.org

Madagascar: seheno.andrianiaina@startnetwork.org

Pakistan: anila.ajmal@welthungerhilfe.de

Philippines: ana.dizon@startnetwork.org